I woke up on July 4 2008 with a sense of expectation. My goal/plan for the morning was to make waffles for my family (a Hartley family tradition started by my father). As a way to commemorate this sacred day in world history I thought I would do something cool for the family. Mind you, I am not cool but I think I am. In a sort of academic James Dean delusion of myself, I hatched the idea that my family could read the Declaration of Independence around the breakfast table. My heart fluttered with my revived patriotism and my self-confident revelation. In a painful unaware moment of dorkiness, I declared to my wife, “Hey, I am cooking waffles and I have something cool we are going to do.” Unfortunately for me, I missed the mark. These consistent declarations are usually off the mark. My idea of cool and my family’s idea of cool are not the same. 21 years have not taught me to do anything different because my delusion of  myself is so strong. I am not cool, good looking or smooth but I have the idea of myself that I am James Bond, Brad Pitt and Einstien rolled up into one. Is that sick or what? As waffles come hot off the animal shape waffle maker and the family is seated around the table, I serve my crew. As the syrup pours out, I remove my “cool” thing for July 4th breakfast. A copy of the Declaration of Independence. I state, “Ok Evan start reading and we will each read a portion as a family.” Any normal father would not have anticipated an excited reception but I am abnormal. As their faces dropped and my realization burrows through my delusion, I am grateful that their love for me motivates them to patronizingly participate in this “activity.” After about 10 minutes of reading this archaic yet powerful document with the same excitement they would have if Santa brought them socks on Christmas morning, I snatch the document from the glum reader and declare, “Ok that’s it. Let me just read it for you.” What is really sad is that I get emotional every time I read that document. Is that mega-dorky or what? But I do, tears in my eyes. These are not the activities or the emotions of a James Dean intellectual. I am not cool but this document moves me to tears because of the fact that the men who declared their independence accepted financial ruin, family suffering and physical peril for principle. These wealthy men risked it all and we benefit in 2008. We should never forget that but I am afraid we have. Maybe my kids will get something out of my dorky July 4th activity. Next year I am going to listen to my wife and stick a sparkler in the waffle. Happy July 4thAH